Phlox plant named &#39;IFPHLFM&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘IFPHLFM’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; flowers that are intense red purple in color; and good container and garden performance.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Phlox Plants

Applicant: Jelle van den Haak

Provisional application Ser. No.: 62/764,553

Filed: Aug. 7, 2018

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFPHLFM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata, typically grown as acontainer and garden Phlox, hereinafter referred to by the name‘IFPHLFM’ and disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/764,553.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Andijk, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Phlox plants with numerousattractive flowers.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination of a proprietaryselection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number 9009-05, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPhlox paniculata identified as code number 047-11-K013- 01, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent in August, 2013. The new Phloxplant was discovered and selected as a single plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nurseryenvironment in Andijk, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Andijk, The Netherlands since September, 2017 has shownthat the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Phlox plant has not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘IFPHLFM’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘IFPHLFM’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.

2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit.

4. Dark green-colored leaves.

5. Freely flowering habit.

6. Flowers that are intense red purple in color.

7. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ primarilyin flower color as plants of the new Phlox have red purple-coloredflowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have lightpurple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent selection differ primarilyin the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Phlox are not as compact as plants of the maleparent selection.

2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of the maleparent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phloxpaniculata ‘Barfourteen’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,605. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Barfourteen’differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of‘Barfourteen’.

2. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Barfourteen’ differ in flower color asflowers of plants of the new Phlox are lighter red purple in color thanflowers of plants ‘Barfourteen’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘IFPHLFM’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of a typicalinflorescence (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph)of ‘IFPHLFM’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 17-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typically used in commercial Phlox production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25°C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants werepinched five weeks after planting and were 15 weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘IFPHLFM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            paniculata identified as code number 9009-5, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            paniculata identified as code number 047-11-K013-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, moderately fibrous;            close to 158B to 158C in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly            upright and compact plant habit; overall shape, broadly and            short inverted triangle; moderately vigorous to vigorous in            growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.7            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25.6            cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 27.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: Typically a single primary            branch and about ten secondary branches per plant. Length:            About 14.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About            2.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 40° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B; color becoming closer            to 143B to 143C with development; at the petiole attachment,            strongly tinged with close to N186C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 9.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to obovate; moderately carinate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire; very finely serrate, serrations are            inconspicious.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            moderately rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            moderately rugose; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than between            NN137A and 147A; venation, close to N144A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to            145B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by            3 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and            salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;            flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly            hemispherical in shape; freely flowering habit with about            165 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 1,000            flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 15            weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            continuously throughout the summer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: Close to N80A; tube, close to N77B;            developing calyx, close to 144C, distally, close to 200A.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.1 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.4 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube; free            parts slightly imbricate. Length (including tube): About 3.1            cm; 55% of the petal is fused. Lobe width: About 1.3 cm.            Lobe shape: Spatulate. Lobe apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly            glossy. Texture, throat: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            velvety. Texture, tube: Densely pubescent. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Between 61A and 71A; towards the            throat, close to 71B. When opening, lower surface: Close to            72C. Fully opened, upper surface: Between 71B and N74A;            towards the throat, close to N74B; venation, similar to            lamina colors; color does not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Between 77B and 77C; venation,            similar to lamina colors; color does not change with            development. Throat: Close to N66A; venation, close to N66A.            Tube: Close to 77B; venation, close to 77B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:            About 7 mm; 30% of the sepal is fused. Width: About 1.5 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire;            not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C; distally, close to            200A; towards the margins, close to 186B. Fully opened,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C strongly tinged with            between N186C and 200A; towards the margins, close to 186B;            venation, close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncles: About 6.3 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncles: About 2.5 mm. Aspect, primary            peduncles: Erect. Aspect, secondary peduncles: About 40°            from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 20° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            glossy. Color: Close to 146C slightly tinged with close to            200D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to            N155A. Anther size: About 1.75 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 159D. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 160B. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Style length:            About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 146D. Stigma size: About            1.5 mm by 2 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma            color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 143C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high    temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 6 through 10.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘IFPHLFM’ asillustrated and described.